Land use change in Kelantan: review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an essential process in minimizing the adverse environmental impact and to ensure sustainable land use. In Malaysia, under Section 34A, Environmental Quality Act 1974, the EIA was made compulsory for any project that can be a threat to the environment....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2018
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/13273/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/13273/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/13273/1/29101-89092-1-PB.pdf |
| Summary: | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an essential process in minimizing the adverse
environmental impact and to ensure sustainable land use. In Malaysia, under Section 34A,
Environmental Quality Act 1974, the EIA was made compulsory for any project that can be a
threat to the environment. All EIA reports require approval from the Department of
Environment prior to the project commencement. This study argues that land use change for
agriculture and logging in Kelantan has a direct connection on the approved EIA. The
objectives of this study is to identify a list of EIA reports that have been previously approved
in Kelantan since 2000 to 2015; and to analyze the EIA reports embracing the trends of
approval, the type of project, territory involved, the consultant involved, the time of approval,
potential impacts and mitigation measures. This study had been reviewed 192 EIA report in
DOE Kelantan and covered year 2000 to 2015. The review process to look at the type of
project, territory involved, the consultant involved, the time of approval, potential impacts
and mitigation measures. It’s covered three district of Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and Gua
Musang. To date, a total of 222 EIA reports have been approved in Kelantan. The results
showed a notable increment in the approval trend of EIA reports. A total of 149 conducted
EIA projects are fall within the territory of Gua Musang. Majority of the approvals are
granted to agriculture and logging projects. Majority projects have passed over the area of
secondary forest, oil palm and rubber plantations, permanent reserve forest and the watershed
of tributaries of Sungai Kelantan. Land-clearing activities for agriculture and logging on a
large scale have a significant impact to environmental change in Kelantan. |
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